THE ambulance service will use mounted medics to deliver rapid
response first-aid at Merseyside's biggest events.

Paramedics will use mountain bikes to cut through crowds and
provide emergency treatment until ambulances can get to the scene - if
required.

The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) staff are now being trained
on bicycle first-aid, to keep their machines in full working order.

The team will be deployed for the first time at the Tall Ships race
and the Open golf at Birkdale.

They have also been put through their paces on a cycle fitness
assessment and are not allowed to take to the road until they have
completed the international police mounted bike course.

Paramedics belonging to the cycle response unit will be expected to
attend all types of emergency calls, including the most serious category
A incidents.

But some drugs will not be carried and the cyclists will need
access to ambulances to obtain them.

An NWAS spokeswoman said: "In recent years, the number of
traffic calming, exclusion schemes and pedestrianised areas has grown
significantly in the city and in other parts of Merseyside.

"This has provided the ambulance service with many challenges
in how best we serve our patients in terms of an appropriate response.

"Our cycle responders have provided a viable alternative to
meet this demand and have also allowed the redeployment of other
resources to more appropriate areas.

"Following successful trials, there has now been a development
of a cycle response unit for deployment at sporting and mass gathering
events in Merseyside where the use of a conventional ambulance would be
hindered.

"Cyclists will respond to all calls, but they are unable to
carry the same amount of drugs as ambulances, due to storage space and
the security risk.

"So, in some cases, where the patient needs to be given
medication, a fully equipped ambulance will also be deployed."

carolineinnes@liverpoolecho.co.uk

ECHO Essentials

Merseyside will have five cycles and 10 trained cycle paramedics.

Cycles have front and back panniers and carry a scaled down version
of the full paramedic rucksack.